The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-12-02
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
The Chief Task That Lies Before the FlG
tieth Congress.


rhe chief Task That Lies Before the rar-
tieth Congress.
The income of the Unit ed States
ought to be reduced Unless this shall
be done the lobbyists and adventurers
win sooner or later fasten upon the
country some prodigal expense that
will not only swallow the surplus, but
| bankrupt the treasury. In the fiscal
1 year of 1886 the Nation collected 1886, :
4e9, 727, and spent $242, 483, 1873. There
was thus surplus of $93, CSC, $50. 1t
il believed that the expenditures this
fiscal year lending June 80, 1880
have been larger, though the receipts
were also increased with the improved
business of the country. 1t may there
| fore be considered that the receipts
of the Government ought to be re-
/ duced at leas $S5, 600, 600 year. OF
the 1886, 439, 1877 of Government in
come for 1886. SIG, 1874, 982 were from
| liquor and tobacco, about S28. 600, 900
/ being for the latter The high tariff
men of Pennsylvania, who are put
/ ting the class taxes into their own
| pockets, hope to secure a reduction
/ of this liquor and tobacco tax, SO that
their own privileges shall not be cut
in upon. But it is not probable that
! Congress will be so far subservient to
the interests of the Pennsylvania mo-
nopolists as to invite popular wrath
! The people paid $685. 600, 900 of dutie S
/ on merchandise imported into this
/ country last year. In rendering this
sum, which was tax of As per cent. on
! $413, 778, 054 of dutiable goods, the peo-
| pie also paid several hundred million
/ dollars of bounty to mOnopolists
who, having barred out all COMPETE
ton, charged what they pleased. The
task that lies before the Fiftieth Con-
gress is to so reduce that item of $685..
| 600, 600 as to give the least shock to
the industries which may be affected
| yet to secure a reduction to the amount
/ of the surplus revenue. The man who
has never before read of the tariff may
ask: ''Why not collect the tax and APP
ply it to the public debt?' Because,
under the contract, no bonds can be
! paid until 1891. The Secretary of the
| Treasury has been able to buy few
! by offering a premium for them, but
this policy is only to be commended
because of the recess of Congress. 1t
IS undeniable that reduction of nearly
/ One-half in the customs will cut off so
many abuses that the Committee of
/ Ways and Means will need to be COM
posed of unusually strong men. But
it is the logic of events that the tax
should stop The people suffer for the
needs of the money that is extorted by
/ Pennsylvania alone. The misdeeds OF
the anthracite coal men, besides, have
hardened the hearts of all West
ern people. There is a tax, most
ly prohibitory, on iron and steel that
brings the Nation but So, 600, 900.
Sweep away that one item and the
whole high tariff fabric would fall to
the ground and the reduction of the
entire amount of $50, 900, 900 would be-
come easy and practicable. The peo-
pie want a cheaper government, and,
inasmuch as the disbursement of the
public moneys has fallen $85, 600, 900
short of the taxes, it does not seem
likely that the Fiftieth Congress will
dare to again accept the yoke of the
| Pennsylvania barons, to whom Repub-
licans and Democrats are alike states
men, but only if they cry: Long live
monopoly and protection. - Chicago
! Herald